Our History

The Nationals WA has maintained its independence in Government, reviewing each piece of legislation before the State Parliament on its merits and voting accordingly.

The Country Party was formed in 1913 in the small Wheatbelt town of Kellerberrin by the Farmers and Settlers Association. The Country Party of WA contested the State elections in 1914 winning 10 seats in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

Since that time the Party has always held seats in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of the Western Australian Parliament.

The Party has had many names in its long history, but adopted its most recent, The Nationals WA, in 2003.

In March 2006 the Party’s State Councillors voted to break the Coalition arrangement that had been in place for a number of years with the Liberal Party. The Nationals WA contested the 2008 State election as an independent political party seeking to hold the balance of power in the State Parliament on behalf of regional West Australians.

On September 6 2008, The Nationals WA achieved the balance of power in both Houses of the State Parliament. The leadership of the Party negotiated in good faith with the Liberal and Labor parties – prepared to form Government with the party that would deliver Royalties for Regions. A week after the State election Brendon Grylls, Leader of The Nationals WA, announced the Party would form a power-sharing alliance with the Liberal Party.

The Nationals WA has maintained its independence in Government, reviewing each piece of legislation before the State Parliament on its merits and voting accordingly.

Since 2008, The Nationals WA have overseen the Royalties for Regionsprogram. This has delivered more than 3600 projects, services and initiatives across regional WA, rebuilding the State.